Larsen & Toubro chairman SN Subrahmanyan‘s comments about employee work schedules have sparked controversy. His remarks about working on Sundays have drawn criticism on social media platforms.
Former badminton player Jwala Gutta criticised Subrahmanyan‘s views on workplace culture, expressing concern over the lack of seriousness given to mental health and rest.
“I mean…first of all, why shouldn’t he stare at his wife…and why only on a Sunday,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Gutta also labelled the chairman’s comments as “misogynistic,” describing the situation as both “disappointing and scary.”
“It’s sad and sometimes unbelievable that such educated people in the highest positions of big organisations are not taking mental health and mental rest seriously… and making such misogynistic statements and exposing themselves so openly!! It’s disappointing and scary,” she added.
The controversy began during an employee interaction, where Subrahmanyan was asked why L&T employees are expected to work on Saturdays—a practice becoming less common in many modern workplaces. Subrahmanyan expressed his desire for employees to work on Sundays.
“I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays.” He further added a remark about employees’ time at home: “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you look at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.”
A video of the exchange has circulated widely on Reddit, with many users expressing disapproval of Subrahmanyan’s tone and the implications of his statements.
The online discussion reflects the ongoing debate about work-life balance and expectations in the modern workplace. The incident has brought attention to differing perspectives on productivity and employee well-being.
L&T issued a statement in response to the backlash, emphasising India’s development goals and the need for collective effort. “We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.”
